Thousands still forced from homes by flooding in California tech hub

A man watches an overflowed Coyote Creek from Roosevelt Park in San Jose, California, U.S., February 22, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

A home is seen submerged in water after an overflowed Coyote Creek flooded nearby neighborhoods and prompted an evacuation in San Jose, California, U.S., February 22, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

Alessio Roic mops up flood water inside the home of neighbor Judy Georges after an overflowed Coyote Creek flooded neighborhoods and prompted an evacuation in San Jose, California, U.S., February 22, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

(L-R) Neighbors Alfredo Azevedo and Gordon Smith push flood water to a storm drain after Coyote Creek burst its banks and flooded nearby neighborhoods and prompted evacuation of more than 14,000 residents in San Jose, California. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 21: Rescuers help a man and his daughter at a San Jose neighborhood inundated by water from an overflowing creek on February 21, 2017. The flooded neighborhood sits beside Coyote Creek, some 20 miles downstream from Anderson Reservoir, which is so full that water has been cascading down its spillway filling the creek to overflowing.
(Photo by Tayfun Cokun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 21: A cat is seen near a flooded area after a San Jose neighborhood inundated by water from an overflowing creek on February 21, 2017. The flooded neighborhood sits beside Coyote Creek, some 20 miles downstream from Anderson Reservoir, which is so full that water has been cascading down its spillway filling the creek to overflowing.
(Photo by Tayfun Cokun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - Floodwaters surround a play structure on February 22, 2017, in San Jose, California.
Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate their homes early Wednesday in the northern California city of San Jose as floodwaters inundated neighborhoods and forced the shutdown of a major highway. / AFP / NOAH BERGER (Photo credit should read NOAH BERGER/AFP/Getty Images)

SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 22: A boy rides a bike past a partially flooded street on February 22, 2017 in San Jose, California. Flooding on Tuesday prompted the evacuation of over 10,000 people in the area. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - A Ford Bronco rests in floodwaters on February 22, 2017, in the Rock Springs area of San Jose, California.
Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate their homes early Wednesday in the northern California city of San Jose as floodwaters inundated neighborhoods and forced the shutdown of a major highway. / AFP / NOAH BERGER (Photo credit should read NOAH BERGER/AFP/Getty Images)

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 21: Rescuers are seen in a boat at a San Jose neighborhood inundated by water from an overflowing creek on February 21, 2017. The flooded neighborhood sits beside Coyote Creek, some 20 miles downstream from Anderson Reservoir, which is so full that water has been cascading down its spillway filling the creek to overflowing.
(Photo by Tayfun Cokun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

People stand by a flooded street near William Street Park after heavy rains overflowed nearby Coyote Creek in San Jose, California, U.S., February 21, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

Homes are seen submerged in water after an overflowed Coyote Creek flooded nearby neighborhoods and prompted an evacuation in San Jose, California, U.S., February 22, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

Up Next

See Gallery

Discover More Like This

HIDE CAPTION

SHOW CAPTION

of

SEE ALL

BACK TO SLIDE

Feb 22 (Reuters) - The mucky water flooding a section of San Jose in Northern California forced officials on Wednesday to widen the area under mandatory evacuation orders, with about 14,000 people barred from returning to their homes following drenching rains.

San Jose, a hub of high-tech Silicon Valley, suffered major flooding on Tuesday triggering evacuation orders when Coyote Creek overran its banks, swamping the Rock Springs neighborhood. Water at some sites engulfed the entire first floor of residences while in other places it reached waist-high.

Officials said the city of about 1 million residents has not seen a flood approaching this magnitude since 1997.

The gush of water inundating San Jose flowed down from the Anderson Reservoir, which was pushed to overflowing by a rainstorm that pounded Northern California from Sunday to Tuesday, officials said.

The reservoir's operators have been releasing water at maximum levels since Jan. 9 but it was not enough to avoid a spillover because of recent storms, Rachael Gibson, a spokeswoman for the Santa Clara Valley Water District, said at a news conference.

Aside from 14,000 people whom officials said were placed under mandatory evacuation orders, with many taking up residence in emergency shelters, the city has issued a less severe evacuation advisory to 22,000 people, urging them to leave their homes as well.

"This is nothing you ever want to see in your community," San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo told a news conference.

Residents of the flooded area, which is near downtown and is made up of apartment buildings and townhomes, would not be allowed to return to their properties on Wednesday, Liccardo said. "We're not out of this yet," he said.

The Weather Service forecasts light rain to resume this weekend in the area.

It was not immediately clear how many homes suffered flood damage.

A section of the 101 Freeway in San Jose and another strip of the thoroughfare south of the city were closed by flooding, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Coyote Creek crested at a record-breaking 14.4 feet (4.4 meters) on Tuesday evening, said National Weather Service forecaster Bob Benjamin.

The previous record was in 1922, at 12.8 feet (3.9 meters), Benjamin said.

"Quite possibly we won't see a return to a flood this weekend because the (weather) system does not look terribly imposing," Benjamin said.

See earlier: Deadly storm hits California:

33PHOTOS

Deadly storms hit California -- February 2017

See Gallery

Deadly storms hit California -- February 2017

SUN VALLEY, CA - FEBRUARY 17: A firefighter carries a woman from her car after it was caught in street flooding as a powerful storm moves across Southern California on February 17, 2017 in Sun Valley, California. After years of severe drought, heavy winter rains have come to the state, and with them, the issuance of flash flood watches in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and the evacuation of hundreds of residents from Duarte, California for fear of flash flooding from areas denuded by a wildfire last year. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

A damaged apartment building after a 75 foot tall tree crashed onto it as the strongest storm in six years slams Los Angeles, California, on February 17, 2017. / AFP / Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

A large 20-foot-deep (6-meter) sinkhole that swallowed two vehicles in North Laurel Canyon Blvd, in Los Angeles, is cordoned-off on February 18, 2017, after a powerful storm hit southern California.
The storm blew in from the Pacific Ocean, hitting California on February 17 with high winds, heavy rain that downed power lines, leaving 60,000 people in the Los Angeles area without power, and prompting hundreds of flight delays and cancellations at airports. Four people have been reported killed due to the storm.
/ AFP / Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

SUN VALLEY, CA - FEBRUARY 17: The busy I5 freeway is shut down in both direction because of flooding as a powerful storm moves across Southern California on February 17, 2017 in Sun Valley, California. After years of severe drought, heavy winter rains have come to the state, and with them, the issuance of flash flood watches in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and the evacuation of hundreds of residents from Duarte, California for fear of flash flooding from area denuded by a wildfire last year. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Workers work after large 20-foot-deep (6-meter) sinkhole swallowed two vehicles in North Laurel Canyon Blvd, in Los Angeles, is cordoned-off on February 18, 2017, after a powerful storm hit southern California.
The storm blew in from the Pacific Ocean, hitting California on February 17 with high winds, heavy rain that downed power lines, leaving 60,000 people in the Los Angeles area without power, and prompting hundreds of flight delays and cancellations at airports. Four people have been reported killed due to the storm.
/ AFP / Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

A large 20-foot-deep (6-meter) sinkhole that swallowed two vehicles in North Laurel Canyon Blvd, in Los Angeles, is cordoned-off on February 18, 2017, after a powerful storm hit southern California.
The storm blew in from the Pacific Ocean, hitting California on February 17 with high winds, heavy rain that downed power lines, leaving 60,000 people in the Los Angeles area without power, and prompting hundreds of flight delays and cancellations at airports. Four people have been reported killed due to the storm.
/ AFP / Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

K-rails and sandbags are placed infront of homes as the strongest storm in six years slammed Southern California, in Duarte, California, on February 17, 2017 . / AFP / Frederic J. Brown (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

K-rails and sandbags are placed infront of homes as the strongest storm in six years slammed Southern California, in Duarte, California, on February 17, 2017 . / AFP / Frederic J. Brown (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

An officer in a police vehicle mans a roadblock, after a mandatory evacuation order was put in place for residents as the strongest storm in six years slammed Southern California, in Duarte, California, on February 17, 2017 . / AFP / Frederic J. Brown (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

SUN VALLEY, CA - FEBRUARY 17: A firefighter carries caution tape in a flooded street as a powerful storm moves across Southern California on February 17, 2017 in Sun Valley, California. After years of severe drought, heavy winter rains have come to the state, and with them, the issuance of flash flood watches in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and the evacuation of hundreds of residents from Duarte, California for fear of flash flooding from area denuded by a wildfire last year. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

A resident evacuates from her apartment building after a 75 foot tall tree crashed onto it as the strongest storm in six years slams Los Angeles, California, on February 17, 2017. / AFP / Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

SUN VALLEY, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Firefighters prepare to transport a patient by ambulance at the scene of a car stuck in flooding as a powerful storm moves across Southern California on February 17, 2017 in Sun Valley, California. After years of severe drought, heavy winter rains have come to the state, and with them, the issuance of flash flood watches in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and the evacuation of hundreds of residents from Duarte, California for fear of flash flooding from area denuded by a wildfire last year. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

A badly damaged apartment building after a 75 foot tall tree crashed onto it as the strongest storm in six years slams Los Angeles, California, on February 17, 2017. / AFP / Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

A man boards a bus on a flooded street as a powerful storm moves across Southern California on February 17, 2017 near Sun Valley, California. After years of severe drought, heavy winter rains have come to the state, and with them, the issuance of flash flood watches in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and the evacuation of hundreds of residents from Duarte, California for fear of flash flooding from areas denuded by a wildfire last year.

(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

A damaged apartment building after a 75 foot tall tree crashed onto it as the strongest storm in six years slams Los Angeles, California, on February 17, 2017.

(MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

K-rails and sandbags are placed in front of homes as the strongest storm in six years slammed Southern California, in Duarte, California, on February 17, 2017 .

(FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

People watch the large waves at El Porto beach as the strongest storm in six years slams Los Angeles, California, on February 17, 2017.

(MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

A pedestrian crosses a street as the strongest storm in six years slammed Southern California, in Los Angeles, California, on February 17, 2017 .

(FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

A driver moves along a flooded street as a powerful storm moves across Southern California on February 17, 2017 in Sun Valley, California. After years of severe drought, heavy winter rains have come to the state, and with them, the issuance of flash flood watches in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and the evacuation of hundreds of residents from Duarte, California for fear of flash flooding from areas denuded by a wildfire last year.

(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

An officer in a police vehicle mans a roadblock, after a mandatory evacuation order was put in place for residents as the strongest storm in six years slammed Southern California, in Duarte, California, on February 17, 2017 .

(FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

A woman walks past a roadblock as the strongest storm in six years slammed Southern California, in Duarte, California, on February 17, 2017 .

(FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

Motorists drive by waters as a powerful storm moves across Southern California on February 17, 2017 in Sun Valley, California. After years of severe drought, heavy winter rains have come to the state, and with them, the issuance of flash flood watches in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and the evacuation of hundreds of residents from Duarte, California for fear of flash flooding from areas denuded by a wildfire last year.

(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

A pedestrian crosses a street as the strongest storm in six years slammed Southern California, in Los Angeles, California, on February 17, 2017 .

(FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

A badly damaged apartment building after a 75 foot tall tree crashed onto it as the strongest storm in six years slams Los Angeles, California, on February 17, 2017.

(MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

SUN VALLEY, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Motorists ford a flooded street as a powerful storm moves across Southern California on February 17, 2017 in Sun Valley, California. After years of severe drought, heavy winter rains have come to the state, and with them, the issuance of flash flood watches in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and the evacuation of hundreds of residents from Duarte, California for fear of flash flooding from area denuded by a wildfire last year. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

A badly damaged apartment building after a 75 foot tall tree crashed onto it as the strongest storm in six years slams Los Angeles, California, on February 17, 2017. / AFP / Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

People with umbrellas walk across a street in Los Angeles, California, U.S. February 17, 2017.

(REUTERS/Ringo Chiu)

A woman holds her umbrella in the wind and rain in Los Angeles, February 17, 2017.

(REUTERS/Ringo Chiu)

People walk around a tree branch felled by wind and rain outside a restaurant in Los Angeles, February 17, 2017.